The clock struck 2:45 on a crisp autumn Friday afternoon at Domino Hugh School. Hoards of students filled with excitement and anticipation over the upcoming weekend hastily stormed through the two trademark navy blue doors of the Japanese High School. It is within this mad exodus of students where we find our beautiful brunette heroine pushing her way against the masses, desperately trying to fight her way back into the building. For Téa Gardner, today was a very special day – it was Friday. In fact, for Téa, Fridays in general had a magical feel to them. On Friday the grass is greener, the skies are brighter, heck – even the cafeteria food tastes better.
Why is this day so much more wonderful than its predecessors, you ask?
The reason for all of this insanity stood approximately 15 feet in front of her – frantically jumping in attempt to reach his textbooks so cruelly located on the top row of school lockers. She giggled at his plight. Téa knew that figure and she could recognize him from a mile away. I mean, sure his unorthodox hair style and diminutive stature were dead giveaways, but more than anything he has a presence about him whenever he entered a room or encountered a difficult situation.
And it is that very presence that Téa Gardner had admittedly fallen head-over-heals in love with.
"Hey Yugi!" Téa reached her friend after wading through a sea of aqua blue and pink school jackets.
"Oh, hi Téa." The young boy retorted. His eyes held a child-like innocence the likes of which Téa has ever seen. Deep violets glimmered and shined – looking innocently at Téa. His eyes seemed to reflecting the purity of his heart…and possibly something else?
Téa abandoned that thought. She grabbed a notebook book from the top shelf of the cold metal locker and handed it to him – smiling. "So, are you and Yami ready for today's big duel?"
Yugi remained silent and paid no attention to the brunette standing in front of him. His jovial spirit seemed uncharacteristically stoic, as his mind wandered while his small hands reached for a textbook – Egyptian History this time.
"Hell-lo? Earth to Yugi…" Téa's arms rested on the blue fabric of her skirt as she leaded over to take a good look at her zoned out friend. A quizzical look graced her features as she starred at the young duelist.
"Are you alright?"
"Oh sorry Téa, I was just thinking about something." A slight tinge of crimson filled Yugi's cheeks as he became aware of their close proximity. Yugi quickly reached for the last textbook and placed it neatly aside the others in the confides of his small brown book bag.
"Come on Yugi, we have to go – Tristan and Joey are waiting for us!"
Once Yugi finished packing up his textbooks, the two students made their way outside of the building in hopes of enjoying what had become the typical Friday afternoon rituals. Aside from the special event that surrounded today, each day after classes Yugi and his friends all headed to what had become 'their spot' – a tree Téa picked out on the first day of high school class.
Flashback
Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Téa carried their lunch trays out of the cafeteria in search of a place to sit down and eat. The Domino High atrium was completely packed with students, so the recently assembled group of friends searched the picnic benches outside for a spot to eat their afternoon meals.
"Aww, all of 'dez benches here are taken!" Joey dejectedly commented.
"Don't worry Joey," Téa began, "we'll eventually find somewhere to eat."
"Well we better, cause I'm starvin' here" Tristan added.
After scanning all available locations, it became apparent that seating room was especially limited on this particular day.
"Ah, I've had it wit' all of this!"
A frustrated Joey Wheeler hastily made his way towards the grassy fields to sit down and enjoy the remainder of his lunch period. The three followed in pursuit and eventually they found themselves beneath the beautiful violet flowers and the slim round trunk of a great Lilac tree.
Joining Joey, Téa, Yugi, and Tristan each sat down on the soft green grass in front of the tree and began eating lunch. A gentle breeze blew from the south on this mild spring afternoon. Conversations regarding crushes, teachers, and of course duel monsters ensued, which gave way to smiles and eventually laughter between bits of food and drink. The four friends did not realize it at the time, but this warm spring day of utter happiness would be the staring point of a deep friendship that they figured would last forever.
At the conclusion of their lunch, Téa was the first to stand.
"Hey guys, come over here." The three boys stopped their conversations and then proceeded to gather around Téa. They watched carefully as she carefully reached into her beige handbag and pulled out a pair of slightly worn scissors.
"This tree is a symbol of our friendship." As Téa said this, she opened the scissors, astutely held them to the bark of the trunk, and began to carve four sets of initials into the bark of the wood. "I know that our friendship is strong, and like this tree…" she briefly paused. "…like this tree we'll be strong enough to overcome anything!" Téa finished engraving the initials 'TT', 'YM', 'JW', and 'TG' into the wood. She then carefully encircled the names with a heart and finally the letters 'BFF' underneath it.
The velvet-like violet Lilac petals gently fluttered down on that day – the day that Joey, Téa, Tristan, and Yugi established themselves as best friends forever.
End Flashback
"Yugi! Téa!" Tristan Taylor called out to his friends as he and Joey Wheeler waved while heading across the picnic benches to their usual spot underneath the Lilac tree. As the pair advanced, the wind picked up, which caused Joey's locks of blonde hair to sway back and forth. The two boys smiled and Yugi and Téa synonymously responded with cheerful greetings as Tristan and Joey dropped their bags and took their places on the grass. It was Tristan who began the conversation.
"Hey pal, you ready for the big duel?"
Yugi let out a small smile at the reference to the duel.
"Yup! Yami and I have been going over strategies, so I think that we should do just fine."
A quiet Téa inwardly stood by as the boys carried on with their conversation. She couldn't help but marvel at the wonder that was her friend Yugi Muto. This small boy possessed two very distinct sides to him: the humble boy that stood in front of her, and then, well there was his alter-ego. Yami Yugi, as she knew him was anything but humble. His strong spirit contrasted with his soft heart. The compassionate friendship that he showed her at times was completely unlike the fiery, ruthless competitor that emerged whenever he was challenged to a contest. All of these characteristics meshed with his dashing physique lead Téa to question whether or not it was proper to call such a person 'human'. She could easily understand why Yami made such a great Pharaoh.
Her thoughts caused her cheeks to tinge a slight pink. As she turned her face away from her friends in embarrassment, she accidentally locked eyes with the small boy sitting beside her. Her previous daydream filled her heart with the utmost curiosity. Téa, who was unaware of her actions for that brief moment, found herself lost in the deep purple recesses of little Yugi's eyes. She starred at him – desperately searching…delving…trying to catch a glimpse of that Spirit which lived inside of the Millennium Puzzle.
Téa's musings were cut short by a small twig which landed within the confines of her smooth auburn tresses.
"Joeeey!" she cried, removing the offending object.
"Ey, it ain't my fault you and Yug are spacing out over 'der. We gotta get goin' – it's almost time for the big duel!"
Téa and Yugi awakened from their trance and rose to their feet. Along with Joey and Tristan, the group left the comfortable surroundings of the Lilac tree and headed towards the predetermined battle spot. The long awaited match between the highly contested rivals was moments away from its commencement. The vengeful challenger stood atop the open area of the Domino gymnasium roof – early awaiting his chance at victory.
The wind picked up for the second time that afternoon. As the four friends walked towards their destination, Téa felt a sharp chill run down her spine, which inadvertently caused her to shiver. Something was out of place and she knew it. Despite how hard she tried to resist, the dark reoccurring thought that plagued the recesses her mind told her one thing and one thing only: This isn't going to be a normal Friday afternoon.